Mike Huckabee: opposition to "comprehensive" immigration reform isn't racist

Posted Fri, Aug 25, 2006 at 2:04 pm
In May, Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee spoke to reporters in Washington D.C. Hotline was there:
Huckabee, who supports guest worker programs and is not an immigration hard-liner, said he believes opposition to comprehensive immigration reform is 'irrational in many cases.' And he did not discount the causative factor of racism.

"If I were to say that some of it is driven by just sheer racism, I think I would be telling you the truth. I've had conversations with people that and it became very evident that what they really didn't like was that people didn't look like them, didn't talk like them, didn't celebrate ht holidays like they do, and they just had a problem with it. Now, that is not to say that everyone who is really fired out about immigration is racist. They're not."
Of course, this could be considered a smear attempt, and the "reporters" at Hotline title their piece "Huckabee: Some Critics Of Comprehensive Reform Are Motivated By Racism".

But, let's think logically about this. "Huck" is only refering to the motivations of some people, not all. According to him, some opponents of "comprehensive" reform aren't doing so because they're racists. Therefore, according to Huckabee, opposition to "comprehensive" reform is not, in and of itself, racist. If Huckabee thinks some people are racist, then he should argue against them personally and he shouldn't try to conflate those who are racist with opposition to "reform".

Now that "Huck" has cleared the air, I eagerly await him arguing for the reasons why we should support a massive amnesty for millions of illegal aliens without relying on smears.

I wonder: is this where Arnold got the similar smear that he later partially retracted? (the La Mesa townhall meeting: Arnold Heckled on SoCal Campaign Tour)

Previous coverage of the even-more-sanctimonious than Bush presidential hopeful starts in these posts:

Molly Hennessy-Fiske/LAT promotes corruption in Arkansas; Huckabee

Mexican consulate coming to Little Rock

Arkansas Republican governor Mike Huckabee and the "underground economy"

Arkansas' Bob Caudle doesn't pull any punches

Arkansas' Huckabee, Tyson Foods, LULAC all aligned

Tags: 
comprehensive immigration reform
league of united latin american citizens
mike huckabee

Comments

John S Bolton (not verified)

Sat, 08/26/2006 - 00:21

Or, one could say that racism means the belief that concepts are inherited genetically and racially.
Disaffinities of the broader type mentioned do not rely on any such belief.
When aggression is increased on the net taxpayer here, via the arrival of immigration cohorts, some argument for this being done should be given. Instead, since no rational argument can be made for delighting in the increase of aggression, or treacherously tolerating it, smear approaches are used.
It is good that there is published, some criticism of those who roll out these smear campaigns, imagining that no one will ever call them on it; especially asking, as above, why rational arguments cannot be found for what is proposed, but only the smear method.

eh (not verified)

Fri, 08/25/2006 - 16:51

I've had conversations with people that (sic) and it became very evident that what they really didn't like was that people didn't look like them, didn't talk like them, didn't celebrate ht (sic) holidays like they do, and they just had a problem with it.

So? Is that really 'racist'? Is it really 'racism' to notice differences between identifiably distinct groups of people, and to develop or feel a preference as to whom you'd like to associate with, or live next to? And then to act on those preferences, perhaps partly in order to preserve a feeling of community or commonality? Or should the term 'racism' be reserved for something more malevolent -- e.g. not allowing Blacks to attend the University of Mississippi just because they are black?

Is it 'racist' to oppose current immigration patterns because, if left unchanged, they will most definitely minoritize Whites in America? Suppose you've experienced the alternative -- multi-ethnic multiculturalism -- and have just plain decided you don't like it, and so would prefer that America not change in this way; is that necessarily a 'racist' opinion? Why can't all of these immigrants pursure their own version of 'the American Dream' right where they are? What's stopping them? Certainly not any of the 'racist' Americans who would prefer they stay home.